In Psalm 18:1 – 3, David did more than just sing a song to the Lord. He prayed to His God and Lord with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude, and out of a deeper sense of resolve to love and worship Him with all of his being. It is believed that David wrote this Hebrew song after he had been made the king of Israel, and following the victory which God had given David over both the Jebusites and the Philistines (cf. 2 Sam 5:1 – 25).
Following this uncertain and unsettling time, David made a three-fold declaration which we would do well to consider when our own lives are filled with uncertainty and unease. First, David made a declaration of devotion unto the Lord (vv.1 – 2a). He described his devotion to the Lord in the following four ways, declaring…
Ø “Lord, You are my strength” (v.1). During the weakest times of his life— during the most uncertain times of his life— during those times in which he may have been the most hated and despised by his enemies— David acknowledged and declared that the Lord was his source of strength to endure and overcome all these things.
May each of us follow David’s example, and make this same declaration from the depths of our own hearts and souls— “I will love You, O LORD, my strength.”
Ø “Lord, You are my sustainer” (v.2a). David described the Lord as his “rock,” indicating that the power and strength, the love and wisdom, of God would always be able to carry him and sustain him through every adversity and every season of life. It is the privilege of every follower of Jesus to experience the power and peace of His sustaining grace within our own lives even today.
Ø “Lord, You are my security” (v.2a). At this point David said the Lord was his “fortress.” This clearly speaks to a sense of divine protection the Lord had placed over his life. He acknowledge the Lord to be his protector, his defender, in this life. Our Great Shepherd still protects and defends those who belong to Him, for He has already laid down His life for His sheep (cf. John 10:11, 15 – 18).
Ø “Lord, You are my Savior” (v.2a). Now David sings to the Lord that He is his “deliverer.” Here is the most significant aspect of David’s declaration of devotion. In essence, he confessed his own inability to save himself. He admitted that his confidence could not reside even with family and friends to come through for him in his greatest time of need. Instead, he declared that God alone was his “deliverer”— even his Savior.
“I will love You, O LORD, my strength.” This was David’s declaration of devotion unto God. Have you made such a declaration of devotion unto the Lord Jesus Christ in your own life?
Second, David then made a declaration of dependency unto the Lord (v.2b, c). He sang out, “My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;” David made two statements at the end of v.2 which gave cause for such a declaration:
ü “Lord, You are my sufficiency” (v.2c). David described the Lord as “my shield and the horn of my salvation,” He had learned through numerous experiences in life that God was, indeed, worthy of his trust. As a young shepherd boy out on the hillsides watching over his father’s flocks, David had experienced God’s presence and power. As a young man on the run from the jealous, wrathful hand of King Saul, David had experienced deep and abiding measures of the Lord’s faithfulness and love. And now, as the king of Israel, David possessed an unshakeable faith that the Lord would enable him to carry out this new role in his life. The King of Israel made his declaration of dependency upon the Lord, because he knew by faith and experience that God Himself was his “Adonai.” God was all he needed.
No matter the needs we may have in life— the adversities which may come before us— the challenges which may come our way— the hostilities which may directed towards us— the fears and uncertainties we may face— God is our sufficiency, too. He is all we need, and He is worthy of our trust just as much as He was of David’s trust. May we also acknowledge the sufficiency of our God’s grace and mercy and love towards us today, confessing that the Lord is also our “Adonai.”
ü “Lord, You are my stronghold” (v.2c). David again affirmed the declaration of his dependency upon the Lord. He provided yet another reason why the Lord was worthy of his trust. This term, “stronghold,” was used to express the thought that when everyone, and everything else, in his life had given way, God was his faithful anchor. The Lord never forsook him, and never failed him.
Likewise, we can sing this same stanza unto the Lord today as well. He is the stronghold for our lives just as He was for David’s life. So, may we make the same declaration of dependency from our hearts today, that we will trust in the Lord with our lives, and in every season of life.
Third, David lastly made a declaration of diligence unto the Lord (v.3). He made this declaration based upon the motivation that the Lord was truly worthy of his praise, his worship, his adoration. Therefore, David said, “I will call upon the LORD,”
Based upon the Hebrew language, David communicated that he would “call upon the LORD” not only in the moment of his need and crisis, but also beyond the moment of his need and crisis. He wholeheartedly sought to pursue knowing God no matter the circumstances of life. He never gave up this holy pursuit, despite his own failures and struggles.
In the moment of our own needs and crises, we are to call upon the Lord. But, it is important for us to note from David’s own example that we are to continually call upon the Lord because He is, indeed, “worthy to be praised.” Like David, we must never give up in the pursuit of knowing God. Let us fervently seek after the heart and mind of God. Let us seek to worship Him with all that we are, no matter the circumstances of this life.
Does David’s three-fold declaration of devotion, dependency, and diligence resonate within your heart, mind, and soul today? It sure has spoken to me. Together, may you and I both pray and sing unto the Lord our own declarations of…
devotion— saying, “I will love You, O LORD;”
dependency— saying, “My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;” and finally,
diligence— saying, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised.”
Following the example of King David, let this be… “The Declaration of the Devoted.”
–Dr. Allen Roberts